Sunday, May 8, 2011

Pindapata 2011 - Welcoming Vesak 2555 BE -




I was remember one early morning while I visit Bangkok a couple years ago, a group of a Bhikkhu ( Budhist monk) wearing their robes like an orange ripple, walking along the street and stop to take food from everyone who wishes to give. Then people seems known that the bikkhu will coming they’re ready with the food, put something into their bowl. Also heard some called out “nimon” to invite them to stop. As silently as open he open his bowl to receive the food. They just stand in silence and keep their eyes fixed upon the open bowl and say nothing. The Bhikkhu doesn’t look to see who is giving him food or even say something unless they ask them something. The layman who offering food are who thank them for having taken food from their hands. Sometimes one sees bhikkhus following gently and quietly after an elder monk, perhaps carrying his bowl for him until the first house is reached upon the alms-round. It's call Pindapata.

Pindapata is a tradition in which Buddhist monks wander through a village to collect their daily meals. The tradition started when Buddha said monks and nuns should not cook or store their own food in order to simplify the lives of monastics and to enrich the spiritual lives of lay people. A bhikkhu doesn’t beg as do ordinary beggars but passes on silently collecting offered food. They makes no effort to attract the attention of anyone.

Now I know that in the lands where the teachings of the Lord Buddha have been long established, the sight of a bhikkhu (Buddhist monk) collecting food in the early morning, is a common one. The alms-gathering ritual must end before lunchtime

This is the first time I've participated in Pindapata. I brought also some food to share. Those who didn't have food can gave them angpao (money in envelopes). As Budha said, It is not always “what is given that is important “ but at “the heart of giving”.


" Happy, indeed, we live, We who possess nothing, Feeders on joy shall we be, Even as gods of the radiant realm - Budha "

8 comments:

santi panon home said...

gw pengen liat prosesi pagi bikhu2 iini, kaayaknya bagus untuk di foto ya ken? pa kabar ken, ko ga ngajak gw ke bangkok :) :)

Johanes Jonaz said...

kok dikasih mie instan? kan mereka nggak boleh masak?

Johanes Jonaz said...

ini orang Indonesia semua?

francesca ken said...

booo....dirimu yang pergi2 ga ngajak2 gw..CIH..eh itu di jakarta koq..heheh

francesca ken said...

waktu di Indonesia, semua boleh nyumbang apa aja. nanti di sortir yang boleh dan enggak. yang enggak boleh di bagikan ke fakir miskin. gitu loh, omm :D

francesca ken said...

wah..ga tau ya..hahaha..ga sempet sensus. yang pasti itu di kota koq :D

Hendra Prasetyo said...

ini dimana siy? koq ada acara kayak ginian?

francesca ken said...

ga tau nih...tapi waktu itu ada yang lewat naik blazer ditengah- tengah carnaval trus nyolek gw..erghh